big CLUNK if i hit the brakes hard

[BoatsRcool]

if i hit the brakes hard, sometimes ill get a big clunk, you can hear it, but feel it on the pedal sorta too.. any clues???

 

[TarHeel085]

does it come from the rear?

 

[BoatsRcool]

well i think the front.. let me try to get it to do it tomorrow

 

[beavis195]

Have ya replaced the Radius arm bushings?

 

[jimbo74]

yup...sounds like radius arm bushings or bad u joint

 

[BoatsRcool]

yeah they were replaced about 6-7 months ago (the radius arm bushings) how could it be a u joint?

 

[irtySanchez]

You can feel it in the gas pedal... are we talking maybe an engine mount? Just a thought.

 

[ChuckyD]

Ya know... i get that too... but it started recently... and only when the weather is bad.. like rain or snow...???? wierd.. any ideas?

 

[ugot5.0ed]

same noise!!

I get the same damn noise!!! try it in 4x4 it is worse, actually scarey. This is the third post i have replied to for the same problem. When I hit the brakes hard, the front of the car seems to jolt down and to the left with the loud clunking noise. In 4x4 it is very bad. I need help also with this problem. Anyone help us please.

Joel

 

[TSTONE]

you might check your slide pins that hold your calipers in place, i had one that the metal plate detached from the rubber and my caliper would shift on occasion under heavy braking conditions, they are cheap enough to replace

 

[diablo5969]

I used to have an issue where whenever I braked the whole Ex would shake. My rear brake lines were messed up, which means that all the braking had to be done by the front brakes, and the brake shoes wore off, so it was metal on metal. That was scary. That's just my brake story

 

[FMExplorer]

It's your front springs...

I had the same problem until I changed the springs out. What happens is the spring moves around in the buckets causing the noise. After lifting mine, the noise went away. If you still have it after the lift, your springs may nit be seated properly in the buckets.

Jon

 

[explorer4x493]

well i have to agree that it might be the radius arm bushings... i know that is prob. right now and that in some of the explorer models it is a ford defect that this occurs often. There is a rubber seal around the passenger bushing and it being so close to the muffler, it literally melts and deteriorates...if you take it to ford or somewhere they might replace it free of charge but don't be too happy when you replace it. it has happened twice now to me and not even a year apart...but i'm not sure that's what it is just what i have experienced.

 

[ChuckyD]

When i changed all my other bushings to Poly, they said they looked absolutly fine. No cracks and they didnt look warn at all. So i dont think thats it on my truck.